Landmark downtown Dallas hotel gets storybook ending

Landmark downtown Dallas hotel gets storybook ending

The Statler in downtown Dallas is returning to its roots as a Hilton, opening in October 2016.
The Statler

The refurbished Statler Hotel in downtown Dallas will debut in October 2016, and it will have a familiar name attached: Hilton. The landmark property will become part of the hotel chain’s Curio collection.

Statler owner Centurion American Development, helmed by Mehrdad Moayedi, entered into a franchise agreement with Hilton, which calls Curio “a global brand of distinctive upper upscale and luxury hotels, hand-picked for travelers who seek local discovery and authentic experiences.” The Highland Dallas hotel is also part of Curio.

The hotel debuted in 1956 as the Dallas Statler Hilton, heralded as the first and finest hotel of the modern era for its groundbreaking design and electronic innovations. It boasted many firsts in the hotel industry, including elevator music and custom 21-inch Westinghouse TVs in every room. It was also one of the first hotels to feature conference and ballrooms on its lower levels.

The Statler Hilton helped establish Dallas as a business and entertainment center in the Southwest, along with its chichi downtown neighbor Neiman Marcus.

“Known as the first modern American hotel, the Statler not only made hospitality and Dallas history, it is a vital chapter of Hilton Worldwide’s story,” said Curio global head Dianna Vaughan global head in a release. “We are so excited to see the redevelopment of this magnificent property and welcome it back to our family.”

Hilton Hotels sold the property to Hong Kong investors in 1988, who renamed it the Dallas Grand Hotel. It closed in 2001. In 2014, Centurion American Development Group purchased the property and secured $46.5 million in TIF financing from the City of Dallas to redevelop the historic property into a flagship hotel, residential, retail and entertainment center.

The master plan includes 161 hotel rooms on the lower five floors and 219 residences on the top 11 floors. The building will include meeting space, retail and office space, four restaurants, and a hotel lounge. A new music venue is also planned in the 14,500-square-foot ballroom. Development is slated to begin in May.

“The Statler was one of the most glamorous hotels in the world when it first opened in 1956, and we plan to restore its position as a destination for not only travelers coming to Dallas, but also as a place to live and work,” Moayedi said.